NameCensus.

UK surname

Yarrow

A surname derived from the Old English word for the yarrow plant.

In the 1881 census there were 584 people recorded with the Yarrow surname, ranking it #5,979 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 930, ranked #6,144, down from #5,979 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stilton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Stretham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, County Durham and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yarrow is 1,049 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.2%.

1881 census count

584

Ranked #5,979

Modern count

930

2016, ranked #6,144

Peak year

1999

1,049 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yarrow had 584 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,979 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016, ranked #6,144.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 827 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Yarrow surname distribution map

The map shows where the Yarrow surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Yarrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yarrow over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 295 #7,737
1861 historical 283 #8,866
1881 historical 584 #5,979
1891 historical 621 #6,225
1901 historical 768 #5,834
1911 historical 827 #5,337
1997 modern 990 #5,551
1998 modern 1,026 #5,561
1999 modern 1,049 #5,490
2000 modern 1,025 #5,573
2001 modern 1,012 #5,530
2002 modern 1,027 #5,581
2003 modern 1,004 #5,573
2004 modern 982 #5,678
2005 modern 956 #5,752
2006 modern 952 #5,786
2007 modern 966 #5,774
2008 modern 945 #5,907
2009 modern 953 #5,983
2010 modern 979 #5,977
2011 modern 953 #6,063
2012 modern 932 #6,084
2013 modern 923 #6,232
2014 modern 925 #6,257
2015 modern 928 #6,188
2016 modern 930 #6,144

Geography

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Where Yarrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stilton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Stretham, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, County Durham, Rotherham, Guildford and East Cambridgeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Stilton Northamptonshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Stretham Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire
2 County Durham 049 County Durham
3 Rotherham 011 Rotherham
4 Guildford 005 Guildford
5 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yarrow

These lists show first names that appear often with the Yarrow surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yarrow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Yarrow, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Yarrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Yarrow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Yarrow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yarrow is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yarrow falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yarrow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Yarrow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yarrow

The surname Yarrow originates from the British Isles, particularly Scotland and northern England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word gearwe or the Scottish Gaelic gearra, which both refer to the yarrow plant, a herb renowned for its medicinal properties. The yarrow plant was commonly found in the regions where the surname first appeared, hence the connection to the land and nature.

In early historical references, the name Yarrow appears in various forms, including Yarwe, Yarow, and Yharowe. One of the earliest mentions of the surname is found in medieval Scottish records. Specifically, Yarrow was recorded as a surname in the ancient Scottish county of Selkirkshire, known for its picturesque Yarrow Valley. A reference to the name can be found in the 13th century with Robert de Yarrow, who was a notable landowner in Selkirkshire around the year 1280.

One prominent historical figure with the surname Yarrow is John Yarrow, an English MP who represented Carlisle in 1384. Another notable bearer of the name is Thomas Yarrow, who was a victualler and ship owner operating in London in the early 17th century. His contributions to maritime trade during the late 1500s and early 1600s were well-documented, particularly in shipping logs of the period.

In the 19th century, the surname was carried by William Yarrow, an accomplished botanist born in 1829. He made significant contributions to the study of British flora before his death in 1896. His works are referenced in various botanical archives and journals of the time.

Another figure in more recent history is Sir Maurice Yarrow, born in 1850, a renowned philanthropist and businessman who made substantial donations to educational and medical institutions before his death in 1924. His philanthropic endeavors were highlighted in British newspapers and journals.

Additionally, Lucy Yarrow, born in 1781, was an influential social reformer known for her advocacy in improving conditions for the poor and the working class. Her efforts in the early 19th century were instrumental in effecting social change in industrial Britain.

The Yarrow surname has often been associated with the natural world and pastoral settings, reflecting the agrarian lifestyle of the regions from which it originated. Over the centuries, it has become an enduring symbol of heritage and connection to the land.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yarrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yarrow surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 130 Yarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 130 2.28x
Cambridgeshire 67 18.57x
Durham 60 3.54x
Yorkshire 56 0.99x
Surrey 45 1.62x
Northumberland 35 4.13x
Kent 29 1.49x
Staffordshire 28 1.46x
Huntingdonshire 20 17.68x
Bedfordshire 18 6.10x
Northamptonshire 15 2.80x
Sussex 15 1.56x
Essex 14 1.25x
Lanarkshire 14 0.76x
Cheshire 5 0.40x
Hampshire 5 0.43x
Hertfordshire 4 1.02x
Lincolnshire 4 0.44x
Suffolk 4 0.58x
Dorset 3 0.80x
Leicestershire 3 0.48x
Warwickshire 3 0.21x
Cumberland 2 0.41x
Angus 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 28 Yarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.31x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 28 11.31x
Shoreditch London 25 10.12x
Tynemouth 22 48.47x
Stretham 20 775.19x
Tottenham 20 22.04x
Lambeth 14 2.82x
St Andrewthe Less 13 31.54x
Westoe 13 13.53x
Stilton 12 944.88x
Wednesbury 12 24.97x
Govan 10 2.19x
Harborne 10 16.23x
St Pancras London 10 2.18x
Gateshead 9 7.09x
Hornsey 9 12.49x
West Rounton 9 2093.02x
Whessoe 9 1800.00x
Peterborough 8 20.62x
Downham 7 182.77x
Henham 7 437.50x
Richmond 7 17.99x
Tadlow 7 1794.87x
Tonbridge 7 9.99x
Warmington 7 522.39x
Bow London 6 8.27x
Chester Le Street 6 46.12x
Darlington 6 9.17x
Edmonton 6 13.07x
Farcett 6 431.65x
Guilden Morden 6 312.50x
Islington London 6 1.09x
Low Worsall 6 1538.46x
Birtley 5 72.25x
Chirton 5 26.07x
Cockerton 5 91.91x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 31.79x
Greenwich 5 5.51x
Hastings St Mary 5 20.92x
Kidbrooke 5 454.55x
Lewisham 5 4.82x
Luton 5 9.79x
Northill 5 181.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 4.36x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 5 19.06x
Teversham 5 1020.41x
Wootton 5 196.08x
Brighton 4 2.06x
Camberwell 4 1.10x
Kimberworth 4 12.77x
Little Stonham 4 666.67x
Morley 4 13.63x
Newington 4 1.90x
North Weald Bassett 4 205.13x
Putney 4 15.41x
Southwark St Saviour 4 13.66x
Spalding 4 22.12x
St Luke London 4 4.38x
Wallsend 4 14.88x
Wath On Dearne 4 35.52x
Bromley London 3 2.39x
Croydon 3 1.95x
East Ardsley 3 61.35x
Ecclesfield 3 7.25x
Fulham London 3 3.63x
Glasgow 3 0.92x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.95x
Littlehampton 3 39.11x
Middlesbrough 3 4.08x
Radipole 3 116.28x
Tamworth 3 29.18x
Wakefield 3 6.92x
West Ardsley 3 44.18x
Widford 3 300.00x
Bradfield 2 9.19x
Littleport 2 29.03x
Seghill 2 48.08x
Stockton On Tees 2 2.45x
Ventnor 2 18.00x
Wrestlingworth 2 157.48x
Yaxley 2 75.47x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Yarrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 23
Eliza 15
Jane 15
Sarah 14
Alice 11
Emma 9
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Louisa 7
Charlotte 6
Ada 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Susan 4
Caroline 3
Elizebeth 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Isabella 3
Lucy 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Susannah 3
Adelaid 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Nellie 2
Rhoda 2
Rosa 2
Rosalie 2
Rose 2
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Emmie 1
Inda 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Yarrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 39
John 34
James 22
George 21
Joseph 11
Alfred 10
Thomas 10
Charles 9
Arthur 8
Henry 7
David 6
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Fredk. 4
Matthew 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Marshall 3
Walter 3
Gibson 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Baron 1
Chas.G. 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Elisha 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Grundy 1
Harry 1
Havelock 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Launcelot 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Marthew 1
Mumford 1

FAQ

Yarrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yarrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 584 people were recorded with the Yarrow surname. That placed it at #5,979 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yarrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016. That gives Yarrow a modern rank of #6,144.

What does the Yarrow surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word for the yarrow plant.

What does the Yarrow map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Yarrow bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.